About the job

Job summary

In December 2021 Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired Appeal Court judge, was appointed by the Prime Minister as Chair of the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was formally established with full powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 in June 2022. The Inquiry sits independently of the Government with the Cabinet Office acting as the sponsoring department. 

Following an initial set up phase the Inquiry began hearing evidence in May 2023. We are now looking for an energetic and collaborative senior leader to join the excellent team that is delivering the Inquiry.

This is an exciting role, offering the opportunity to lead an innovative team, in fast moving circumstances, to ensure lessons are learned from the UK response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Further information about the Inquiry can be found on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry website.

About The Team

The Estates and Operations team within the Inquiry is an inclusive and close-knit team of five, led by the Head of Estates and Operations. The team oversees the running of the Inquiry’s permanent and temporary hearing and office spaces, with particular focus on running the hearing centre during preliminary and evidentiary hearings.

We are looking to recruit into two of our current posts, which lead Front of House delivery, staff and suppliers in-person at the Inquiry’s hearings, and ensure that the Hearing Centre and office spaces are effectively and well run.

To find out more about the team and the role, please refer to slide 5 of the attached candidate information pack.

Conflicts of interest  

 

Please note that candidates invited to interview will be invited to declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interests which could affect the independence of the Inquiry, in confidence, to the senior conflicts of interest recruiting manager. This may include current or prior work undertaken on the COVID-19 pandemic response. Decisions on any potential conflict of interest will be made before an appointment to the role is confirmed.

Job description

You will support the delivery of the permanent estate requirements for the Inquiry’s hearings and secretariat office space as well as other key operational priorities. Reporting directly to the Head of Estates you will work with teams from across the Inquiry work to drive successful delivery, with both: 

• Leading Front of House delivery and staff in-person at the Inquiry’s hearings.
• Ensuring that the Hearing Centre and office spaces are effectively and well run.
• You will lead in the preparation, interpretation and presentation of in-year financial information into the monthly financial reports.

Some of the key responsibilities include and are not limited to:

• Engaging with and coordinating colleagues and suppliers to run the Front of House operation at the hearings centre.
• Dealing with the general public, legal teams and the media that attend the hearings.
• Managing systems, processes and policies such as the public registration system.
• Preparing guidance for staff and visitors to better help them access and use our spaces.
• Delivery of security and cleaning, IT and AV requirements and any other FM requirements.
• Coordination of procurement, budget, quality standards and commercial requirements.
• Reporting on Business Continuity planning, Health and Safety recording and asset management.
• Contributing to regular and ad hoc briefings/reports as required by senior managers covering project performance and risk management.
• Identifying and implementing opportunities to reduce cost and improve performance, working effectively within the relevant governance mechanisms and controls framework.
• You will be responsible for the oversight of the Estates budgeting, monitoring of spend.
• You will be responsible for reporting to the Grade 6 of the monthly financial position and for providing an accurate forecast outturn position for all budget areas to inform operational and strategic decision making.
• Delivery of wider estates, operational and logistic priorities as necessary.

Person specification

The ideal candidate for this role would have the following key skills and experience: 

Essential requirements: 

• Experience of delivering estates, operations or events projects, with strong finance, project management or procurement skills.
• Previous experience in a Estates finance role, leading and delivering on month end activities and reporting to senior stakeholders.
• A confident and effective communicator in person and in writing.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including the public, senior leaders, peers, direct reports and team members, working collegiately and inspiring trust and confidence in all.
• Experience of successfully working in a high-profile and fast-paced cross-functional environment, delivering high-standard work to deadline.
• A highly organised self-starter and natural problem solver who enjoys developing solutions to unique problems that may arise, as well as identifying ways to improve processes and ways-of-working.

Desirable skills 

• Experience of working in an Inquiry, investigation or legal context.
• Experience of working in a public-facing environment.
• Finance, procurement, commercial qualifications.

Additional Information:

During hearing weeks the successful candidates will work primarily from our hearing centre in Paddington.

Occasional working extended hours at the hearing centre when hearings are running may be necessary.

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,500, Cabinet Office contributes £12,015 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

Please upload your CV covering your employment history. You should also provide a Statement of Suitability of no more than 750 words which should address the essential criteria and demonstrate the areas outlined in the person specification listed above.

Selection process

If you are successful in securing an interview you will be asked questions on the behaviours listed within the advert, on strengths and about your relevant experience. There will also be a presentation, the details of which will be shared ahead of the interview.

Should there be a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted using your Statement of Suitability.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 03/06/2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 17/06/2024
Interview location - Remote - Video - Google Meets

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency prior to commencing. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter 

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.